Cupra partially unveils its very first 100% electric model: the el-Born, a compact, revitalized sedan offering up to 500 km of range.
Launched at the start of 2018, the young Cupra brand already unveils its fourth production model, and its very first 100% electric vehicle. After the sporty versions of the Seat Leon and Ateca and the new Formentor SUV, here is el-Born, a compact zero-emission sedan that had been presented as a concept at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show and which was then badged Seat.
Compared to the latter, Cupra has evolved the design towards more sportiness with sharper lines and headlights, a marked hood, a new shield and many touches of copper. A color dear to Cupra that is also found inside, on the dashboard, the center console or the steering wheel. On board, we also discover quality and recycled materials for some, sport bucket seats, a new steering wheel with driving profile selection buttons, a small combined digital instrumentation and a large central touch screen.
On the technical side, the el-Born, so named in reference to a trendy district of Barcelona, will be at Seat the Iberian cousin of the Volkswagen ID.3, with which it shares the MEB platform. On the other hand, at Cupra, it will be the counterpart of the ID.3 GTX, GTX being the future badge of the sports versions of electric Volkswagen. Its performance will therefore be boosted.
Up to 315hp?[]
If its engine is not yet known, the rumor already evokes two blocks: one of 204 hp at the rear and the other from 100 to 115 hp at the front. All for all-wheel drive and combined power between 300 and 315 hp.
The Cupra brand has for its part already promised a 0 to 50 km / h in 2.9 seconds and a sports chassis with a controlled suspension (DCC) developed exclusively for the model. Also on the menu: an 82 kWh battery which allows a range of up to 500 km. "Thanks to its rapid recharging capacity, 30 minutes will be enough for the Cupra el-Born to be able to hit the road for at least 260 km", adds the Spanish firm.
Finally, the car will be full of advanced technologies and will notably have a head-up display with augmented reality.
Cupra el-Born will excepted in 2021[]
The new Cupra el-Born will be produced at the Volkswagen plant in Zwickau, Germany, and its marketing is scheduled for 2021 while the Seat version is expected in 2020.